The Premier League strugglers have made a formal move for the long-term Liverpool target as they attempt to increase their creative options in the final days of the windows.

However, it is understood that Ince is holding out for a return to Liverpool, who bid for the Blackpool winger earlier this month but have not been able to agree a deal.

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston, widely regarded as a difficult negotiator, had indicated that he would not stand in the way of Ince completing a move to Anfield 18 months after he joined the Seasiders for £250,000.

But the switch had been held up by Blackpool’s request to have a sell-on clause inserted into the deal for the 20-year-old winger.

All parties involved had been hopeful Ince would be a Liverpool player by the end of the window but Reading's bid strengthens the hand of the Championship club.

Blackpool want the cushion of a sell-on clause of around 30 per cent to be inserted into the deal if Ince leaves the club in the coming week.

Similarly, Liverpool had a 35 per cent sell-on clause in the deal that took Ince to the Seasiders in August 2011, meaning that the Merseysiders will end up paying £3.9m if the agreed fee is £6m, which is believed to be their offer that remains on the table.

The Anfield Academy graduate has blossomed at Bloomfield Road, scoring 14 goals in the Championship this season.